FORMER FLYERS GET THEIR REVENGE

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FORMER FLYERS GET THEIR REVENGEPhiladelphia Flyers 3, Edmonton Oilers 5

Former Flyers Geoff Sanderson scored twice and Joni Pitkanen netted the game-winning goal to lift the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers at Rexall Place Saturday night.

Mathieu Garon made a couple of good stops early on in his Oilers debut. First, he made a nice glove save on a snapshot by Jeff Carter from the right faceoff circle then several minutes later he had to be sharp on a quick screened shot off the stick of Simon Gagne in the slot.

Edmonton started to take over the game as the period approached the midway point. First, the line of Robert Nilsson, Jarret Stoll and Raffi Torres had numerous chances with Nilsson setting up Torres and Stoll on several occasions but Flyers netminder Martin Biron was solid in keeping the puck out.

On the next shift, Sam Gagner, Andrew Cogliano and Marc Pouliot were buzzing around the Philadelphia net. Pouliot set up Gagner on a beautiful chance from the slot on one chance and then Cogliano from in-close had Biron flat on his stomach but the Philadelphia netminder managed to stick his pad in the air to make a tremendous save.

Late in the opening period, Joni Pitkanen was flying around the ice against his former team. On a power play he pinched in deep and almost snuck the puck in on the left side. In total, Pitkanen rifled three shots in the opening period and had three others blocked.

Shots on goal after one were 16-4 for the Oilers as they carried most of the play.

Philadelphia came out of the gate quickly to start the second period, firing the first five shots on Mathieu Garon but it was Edmonton that struck for the game's first goal.

Shawn Horcoff passed the puck to Steve Staios at the point and his shot beat Biron to give Edmonton a 1-0 lead. Penner provided a big screen in front and the puck ricocheted off a Flyers stick.

Philadelphia tied the game at the 8:39 mark of the period. Joffrey Lupul took the initial shot on Garon and Jeff Carter batted the rebound out of the air. After a brief review to see if it went in on a high stick, it was ruled a goal.

With 8:27 to go in the second, Dustin Penner scored his first as an Oiler to give Edmonton a 2-1 lead. Right off the faceoff, Horcoff won the draw to Hemsky and the slick-skating winger made a nice move to get around the Flyers forwards before dishing it to Penner in the slot. Penner then one-timed it low stick side to beat Biron.

Less than two minutes later, Daniel Briere showed why Philadelphia broke the bank to sign him this summer as he split the Oilers defence before making a nice move and roofing the puck to tie it up 2-2.

Late in the second, a questionable call on Joni Pitkanen for knocking the net off gave Philadelphia a power play and it took the Flyers only seconds to convert. Briere found Gagne in the slot and he fired it past Garon to give the Flyers their first lead of the night at 3-2.

With 4.8 seconds to go in the second, Geoff Sanderson scored his first as an Oiler to tie the game at 3-3. Reasoner had the puck in the corner where he threw it out front to Sanderson who drove the net and tapped it in.

After two, shots on goal were 24-19 in favour of Edmonton.

1:10 into the third, another former Flyer struck to put Edmonton in front 4-3. Joni Pitkanen's initial shot was saved by Biron but the rebound went in off Mike Knuble in front.

With 6:30 to go in the third, Sanderson received two minutes for hooking to give Philadelphia a late power play. Edmonton penalty killers were able to hold off the Flyers for the two minutes thanks to some stellar shot blocking by both Staios and Reasoner.

Edmonton penalty killers were tested again with 3:37 to go as Dick Tarnstrom was sent off for hooking. Once again, the PK came up huge to preserve the one-goal lead. Garon was called upon to make one solid save off the stick of Braydon Coburn.

In the final minute, the Flyers continued to press for the equalizer but Sanderson added his second of the game into an empty net to make the final 5-3. Kyle Brodziak made a nice play in the Edmonton zone to intercept the puck and then clear it out of the zone.